Lightfoot Steps
Out for a walk
The inspiration to create this demo version of “Walking Free” was born out of my love for a particular style of instrumental guitar music and a desire to be able to play and hear more of it. This calling began and grew with songs like Stevie Ray Vaughn’s “Riviera Paradise,” “Lenny’” and Stang’s Swang, Eric Johnson’s “East Wes, “Trade-mark” and Manhattan, Pat Metheny’s “Spring Ain’t Here,” “Better Day’s Ahead” and “Have You Heard” and finally Acoustic Alchemy’s “Missing Your Touch,” “Lady Linda” and “Papillon.”
This CD features electric and acoustic guitar oriented instrumental music accompanied by bass, drums, percussion, keyboards, vocals and occasional sax or flute. It encompasses an elegant and sophisticated yet accessible rhythmic blend of blues, jazz and ambient rock with various ethnic influences. The arrangements support lyrical melodies that the listener can feel in his/her bones.
I hadn’t really played this kind of music before, so again, I had a bit of a learning curve ahead of me. I began by analyzing songs that had “that sound” and progressed into a self-study of jazz theory and improvisation. I tried to find music with “this sound” but this was not easy as I did not know how to describe it.
Walking Free
Unstoppable
Full Circle (part 1)
Full Circle (part 2)
Into Angel
Playing with Forces...
Dreaming of Our Dance
On A Whim
Coming Home
Walking Free Audio
Walking Free
Robert James Music
Free the music within
In August of 2005, I began the journey of dedicating myself to producing this recording. I planned on recording only six songs with simple arrangements (two guitars, maybe three at most). The production snowballed and two years later, after the adding bass, drums and more programming than I would ever choose to do again, I called it DONE. I did take a six-month break to move into a new home and convert the two-car garage into a 320 square foot music studio. Never the less, the muse was a demanding mistress.
And so begins the next chapter of this story—gathering the musicians to bring the music to life with all its promise, masterfully record it and share it live from stages near and far.
May you encounter many treasures upon your path from “Walking Free” to “Coming Home.”
Robert James 2007
